How to Live in God’s House, Part 5
In our message, NOURISH YOURSELF AND OTHERS (1 Tim. 4:1-16), we looked at a standard operating procedure the enemy uses to infiltrate the church to discredit “the truth” that we proclaim and defend (1 Tim. 3:15-16; 6:20, etc.). This attack on “the mystery of godliness” comes also from a mystery- ‘the mystery of iniquity,” and the Bible shows us here it is often carried out from within the body of Christ… (1 Tim. 3:15-16; 2 Thes. 2:7, etc.).
“… the [Holy] Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith” (1 Tim. 4:1a). The word for “depart” here means ‘to stand away from’ or (as it reads in the NET) to “desert the faith” (1 Tim. 4:1 NET). And the noun form of this word in the Greek is where we get the English word apostasy from. Some will argue that only non-Christians can be apostate, but that is not true. Real life and the Word of God both show us Christians can be ‘backslidden’ or ‘carnal’ when they follow the impulses of their sinful human nature rather than the Holy Spirit’s leading in their lives (1 Cor. 3:3 vs. Eph. 5:18, etc.). For a Christian, this can result in “giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons” through willful, unconfessed sin that can also “sear” his or her God-given conscience “shipwrecking” one’s faith present-day sense (1 Tim. 1:18-20; 4:2). But the grace of God will always see all those who are the Lord’s children through to the end because the blood of Christ has justified us from all our sin (John 19:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30, etc.). Also, when the Bible states, “the Spirit says expressly” or explicitly that “in the latter times some will depart from the faith,” it may be a reference to the Acts chapter 20 account when Paul was speaking to the elders at Ephesus (where Timothy also later became an elder) saying from within the church the devil would attack as was the case with “Hymenaeus and Alexander” (Acts 20:30; 1 Tim. 1:19-20; 1 Cor. 5:5, etc.).
The false doctrine advanced by people at that time who had departed from the faith was a form of Gnosticism where its teachers advocated all the spiritual world was good and all the material world was evil. This led to them teaching lies to keep people from marrying and eating certain kinds of foods (1 Tim. 4:3). Paul corrected this heresy with the truth that God made everything good in the beginning and nothing is to be refused if it is taken thankfully, in prayer, being used the right way (1 Tim. 4:4-5; James 1:16-17).
People who teach these truths in the Bible, Scripture says, protect themselves by nourishing themselves in the truth of God’s Word and others (1 Tim. 4:6, 15-16, etc.). This is what the Bible calls exercising oneself in godliness which is more profitable than physical exercise because it has benefits not only for this life but for the life to come (1 Tim. 4:7-9). It is because of standing for the truth of the Bible that Paul “suffered reproach” as he declared these things to all men because the Lord wants all to be saved (1 Tim. 4:10-11). While Christ is the only true and living God with salvation freely extended to all people, sadly, only those who come to Him His way, by grace through faith, will be saved (1 Cor. 3:15; 4:10; Eph. 2:8-9; John 3:7, 16; 14:6; Acts 4:12, etc.).
Until Jesus returns, we in the church are called to live for Him (1 Tim. 4:12; Rom. 12:1-2, 9, etc.), as we read aloud publicly the Scriptures and exhort one another through the preaching and teaching of God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:13). This includes using the “gift” or gifts the Lord has given each of us supernaturally when we came to faith in Christ for His glory and kingdom (1 Tim. 4:14) as well as full focus on our part to follow Christ taking up our cross so our “progress” may be evident to all as we “continue” in what we know to be true in God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:15-16). When we keep close watch on how we live, and on our teaching (1 Tim. 4:16 NLT), we are promised God will form Christ in us- saving us today in a present-day sense from the power of sin and a wasted life (1 Cor. 3:15; Gal. 5:1, etc.). And Scripture also reveals when we “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling” today being serious about our walk with the Lord who also “works in [us] both to will and to do His good pleasure,” it will help those who listen to us to know Christ better too (Phil. 2:12-13; 1 Tim. 4:16a; James 1:21; 1 Tim. 2:15; John 17:17, etc.). *For more information on these truths from God’s Word, please see SBFC’s July 27, 2025 message above.